The Young Idea
The Young Idea, subtitled "A comedy of youth in three acts", is an early play by Noël Coward, written in 1921 and first produced the following year.In 1921, Coward was appearing at the St James's Theatre, London, in Polly With a Past, a comedy by George Middleton and Guy Bolton."[2] In June 1922, producer Robert Courtneidge took up an option on Coward's play and mounted a tour of it, beginning in Bristol, directing it himself.He pretends not to have noticed, but after Roddy leaves, he takes Cicely to task, telling her that although he no longer loves her, he is unprepared to have a scandal.The exchange does nothing to alleviate relations between the couple, which are already strained because George has invited Sholto and Gerda – his children from his first marriage – to stay with them.The young people, brought up on the Continent by George's ex-wife, Jennifer, arrive full of high spirits.They bring out two large photographs of their mother in her garden at Alassio, and, unnoticed by his father, Sholto puts them on the mantelpiece.He calmly points out to his wife that life in British colonial society for a woman living with a man to whom she is not married will be highly unpleasant.Maria excitedly announces that the carriage bringing the children home is approaching, and Jennifer asks her suitor to wait in another room until she has broken the news to them.[7] James Agate wrote of the first production, "One remembers Mr Noel Coward's first play as a very light and entirely admirable comedy.
Kate CutlerHerbert MarshallNoël CowardAnn TrevorSavoy TheatreI'll Leave It to YouSt James's TheatrePolly With a PastGeorge MiddletonGuy BoltonBernard ShawYou Never Can TellRobert CourtneidgeMartin LewisLeslie BanksRonald WardNaomi JacobSt Martin's TheatreWest EndCecil ParkerArthur MacraeJames AgateSimon CallowLibriVoxLondon Calling!On with the DanceThis Year of GraceWords and MusicSet to MusicSigh No MoreOh, Coward!Cowardy CustardBitter SweetConversation PieceOperettePacific 1860Ace of ClubsAfter the BallSail AwayThe Girl Who Came to SupperThe Rat TrapThe Better HalfThe VortexHay FeverFallen AngelsEasy VirtueThe Queen Was in the ParlourSemi-MondeThis Was a ManSiroccoThe MarquiseHome ChatPrivate LivesPost-MortemCavalcadeDesign for LivingPoint ValaineTonight at 8.30Present LaughterThis Happy BreedBlithe SpiritPeace in Our TimeSouth Sea BubbleRelative ValuesQuadrilleNude with ViolinLook After Lulu!Waiting in the WingsSuite in Three KeysIn Which We ServeBrief EncounterThe Astonished HeartPomp and CircumstancePresent IndicativeFuture IndefiniteThe Noël Coward DiariesTonight Is OursWe Were DancingMeet Me TonightPretty PollyRed PeppersHigh Spirits